Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

Chiquilín de Bachín

Chiquilín de Bachín is a Tango written by Astor Piazzolla and recorded by Astor Piazzolla in 1982. The Tango Chiquilín de Bachín is written by Astor Piazzolla, Astor Piazzolla has recorded Chiquilín de Bachín with the singer Roberto Goyeneche.
“Chiquilín de Bachín,” translated as “Little Boy of Bachín,” captures the essence of youthful innocence and urban melancholy in a Buenos Aires setting. The name suggests a streetwise child, perhaps selling flowers or shining shoes, amidst the bustling cafes and dimly lit corners. It paints a poignant portrait of resilience and dreams within the tango’s haunting melodies.

Tango

Style

Astor Piazzolla

Orchestra

Roberto Goyeneche

Singer

Horacio Ferrer

Author

Astor Piazzolla

Composer

1982/5/30

Date

Roberto Goyeneche
Roberto Goyeneche
Astor Piazzolla
Astor Piazzolla

Discover Other Orchestras

Carlos di Sarli – Fumando espero – 1956/2/3
Carlos di Sarli – Una noche de garufa – 1931/8/14
Carlos di Sarli – El opio – 1940/4/17
Carlos di Sarli – Buenos Aires yo te canto – 1954/4/21
Carlos di Sarli – Royal Pigall (Qué has hecho de mi cariño) – 1954/1/4
Lucio Demare – Palomita mia – 1943/9/3
Lucio Demare – Pena de amor – 1943/2/11
Lucio Demare – Dos corazones – 1944/9/25
Lucio Demare – Milonga en rojo – 1942/9/3
Lucio Demare – Pa’ mí es igual (Siempre amigos) – 1950/9/20
Julio De Caro – De rompe y raja – 1949/10/19
Julio De Caro – El monito – 1939/5/23
Julio De Caro – Color de rosa – 1928/1/1
Julio De Caro – Ivette – 1926/6/9
Julio De Caro – Esta noche – 1939/10/7
Alfredo De Angelis – El santo de la espada – 1950/6/7
Alfredo De Angelis – Lluvia de estrellas – 1985/1/1
Alfredo De Angelis – Mi Yerutí – 1985/1/1
Alfredo De Angelis – Patrona – 1951/5/29
Alfredo De Angelis – Para mí lo mismo da – 1946/3/29

Recommended

These Tangos, Valses, and Milongas were recorded around the same time. Take a look to discover what else this orchestra—or others—may have recorded during the same week or even on the exact same day.

Chiquilín de Bachín recorded by other Orchestras

Chiquilín de Bachín recorded by other Orchestras

1982/5/30 – Balada para un loco – Astor Piazzolla
1982/5/30 – Cambalache – Astor Piazzolla
1982/5/30 – El Gordo triste – Astor Piazzolla
1982/5/30 – Garua – Astor Piazzolla
1982/5/30 – La ultima curda – Astor Piazzolla
Chiquilin de Bachin – 1982/5/30 – Astor Piazzolla – Roberto Goyeneche
Chiquilin de Bachin – 1969/12/4 – Astor Piazzolla – Roberto Goyeneche

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Chiquilín de Bachín

This is the translation of the Tango “Chiquilín de Bachín” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “Chiquilín de Bachín” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango Chiquilín de Bachín

Por las noches, cara sucia

de angelito con bluyín,

vende rosas por las mesas

del boliche de Bachín.



Si la luna brilla

sobre la parrilla,

come luna y pan de hollín.



Cada día en su tristeza

que no quiere amanecer,

lo madruga un seis de enero

con la estrella del revés,

y tres reyes gatos

roban sus zapatos,

uno izquierdo y el otro ¡también!



Chiquilín,

dame un ramo de voz,

así salgo a vender

mis vergüenzas en flor.

Baleáme con tres rosas

que duelan a cuenta

del hambre que no te entendí,

Chiquilín.



Cuando el sol pone a los pibes

delantales de aprender,

él aprende cuánto cero

le quedaba por saber.

Y a su madre mira,

yira que te yira,

pero no la quiere ver.



Cada aurora, en la basura,

con un pan y un tallarín,

se fabrica un barrilete

para irse ¡y sigue aquí!

Es un hombre extraño,

niño de mil años,

que por dentro le enreda el piolín.



Chiquilín,

dame un ramo de voz,

así salgo a vender

mis vergüenzas en flor.

Baleáme con tres rosas

que duelan a cuenta

del hambre que no te entendí,

Chiquilín.

English lyrics of the Tango "Chiquilín de Bachín"

At night, dirty-faced,
like an angel in jeans,
he sells roses at the tables
of Bachín’s tavern.

If the moon shines
above the grill,
he eats moon and sooty bread.

Each day in his sadness
that refuses to dawn,
the morning wakes him on January sixth
with the reversed star,
and three thieving magi
steal his shoes,
one left and the other one too!

Little boy,
give me a bouquet of voice,
so I can go out and sell
my blooming shames.
Shoot me with three roses
that hurt on account
of the hunger I never understood,
Little boy.

When the sun dresses the kids
in aprons of learning,
he learns how much zero
was left for him to know.
And he looks at his mother,
turns and turns,
but he does not want to see her.

Every dawn, in the trash,
with some bread and noodles,
he makes a kite
to leave—and yet he stays!
He is a strange man,
a thousand-year-old child,
with a tangled string inside.

Little boy,
give me a bouquet of voice,
so I can go out and sell
my blooming shames.
Shoot me with three roses
that hurt on account
of the hunger I never understood,
Little boy.

Chiquilín de Bachín by Horacio Ferrer

Chiquilín de Bachín is a Tango written by Horacio Ferrer and composed by Astor Piazzolla.



Story behind the Tango Chiquilín de Bachín

“Chiquilín de Bachín” translates to “Kid from Bachín,” which is a reflection of the life of a street child roaming the area around the “Bar Bachín” in Buenos Aires. The lyrics poignantly portray the hardships faced by a young boy, identified as Chiquilín, who sells roses at a local bar to survive. This tango piece touches deeply on themes of poverty, survival, and the lost innocence of children forced to mature prematurely in harsh conditions. The tale unfolds through the night setting, symbolizing darkness and struggle in the boy’s life.



Symbolism of Chiquilín de Bachín

The tango uses potent symbolism to enhance the narrative. “Cara sucia de angelito con bluyín” (dirty face like a little angel in jeans) juxtaposes innocence and hardship. The recurring use of religious and celestial imagery like “si la luna brilla sobre la parrilla” and “un seis de enero con la estrella del revés” symbolizes both hope and a twisted fate, aligning with the perverted joys and stolen childhood of the protagonist. Roses symbolize beauty and possibly a plea for gentleness in a world that overlooks the underprivileged. The phrase “Baleáme con tres rosas” implying “Shoot me with three roses” starkly combines violence with fragile beauty, depicting deep pain and resignation.



Chiquilín de Bachín in historic Context

Recorded in 1982, “Chiquilín de Bachín” emerged during a period of significant political and economic turmoil in Argentina, including the aftermath of a military dictatorship and leading into the Falklands War. This context of social unrest and public disillusionment significantly informs the tango’s mournful tone and its focus on societal neglect. The specific setting around a well-known bar in Buenos Aires grounds the story in a relatable reality for many Argentinians, making the character of Chiquilín a symbolic figure of broader societal issues faced by the urban poor. The historical context amplifies the resonance of the themes of abandonment and resilience represented in the tango.



Horacio Ferrer

Horacio Ferrer was a renowned Uruguayan-Argentine poet and tango lyricist, celebrated for his innovative contributions to the genre and his collaborations with the famed composer Astor Piazzolla.